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BackStory--Aliens: The Threat From Abroad in American History

Publication Date:

2008-07-14 (Archive)

Date Submitted:

2008-07-10

Announcement ID:

163125

"Andrew Jackson: democratic icon, frontier fighter, and proud citizen of…Spain? Today, as immigrants risk life and limb by the thousands to enter the United States, the borders seem clearly drawn. But in Jackson’s time, the idea of citizenship and national identity possessed a fluidity we might now find disarming—swearing allegiance to Spain was a requirement simply to do business in Natchez, now part of Mississippi. From its inception, America was a country made up of immigrants, so why do aliens pose such a threat? Have we traditionally made it easy or hard for aliens to become Americans, and how has this been accomplished? Is the Texas border wall the culmination of a long process of restriction and regulation—or is it un-American?"...

Greetings from "BackStory with the American History Guys," an American History radio show based at the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities and hosted by historians Ed Ayers, Brian Balogh, and Peter Onuf (www.backstoryradio.org). I'm writing to announce an upcoming show--"Aliens: The Threat From Abroad in American History"--and also to seek your participation.

We're looking for callers who want to talk with the History Guys about this subject on the air--share a story, ask a question, etc. If you are interested in participating and sharing your thoughts with with us and our listeners, email me ASAP (by Monday, 7/14 at the latest) so I can give you more details and we can set up a time for the call. And please forward this widely if you know of others who might be interested.

We are also open to suggestions about scholars--or others (immigration lawyers, etc.)--in this field who would make engaging interview subjects.

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